Page 62 of Country Contract

Tonight is Silas’s first Halloween event at The Draft. Usually, the rec center throws a little party and locals would stumble into his place after. This year, he and CeCe wanted to do something of their own. He has special cocktails planned, the debut of his fall brew, and CeCe made acouple of creepy snacks. I’ll hop over there to occupy my time.

Me: Is this a costume party?

Silas: You are a grown-ass man. Did you really just ask me if I’m hosting a “costume party” at my bar?

Me: Yes.

Silas: It absolutely is. You better come dressed up or no entry.

I rock back on my heels and open a new text.

Me: Your brother is telling me I have to dress up to come in. Is that true?

CC: Do you really even have to ask? -_-

Me: Right. Are you going to be there?

CC: Yes.

Me: See you there.

CC: K.

Slipping on my boots, grabbing my jacket, and tossing on my Stetson, I head out.

Damn, I am so proud of Silas.

The place is absolutely packed. He and CeCe went all out. The bar usually has a calm glow about it, but tonight they switched the lightbulbs out with some red-orange tones. It looks like a vampire’s lair. There are candelabras and spiderwebs on every table. A fog machine must be going as a mist lightlycoats the floor.

Looking around, I see practically no one is dressed up, save for a few women in scantily clad outfits and one guy in a toga. I bet he’s freezing.

Making my way to the bar, I wave to Silas who returns the wave with a jerk of his chin. CeCe is jogging up from the back and spots me; running up, she wraps her arms around me and gives me a hug.

“Please tell me you’re here to help!” she yells over the music.

Ah, that’s why she was short. Stress.

“Of course, where do you want me?” I give her a little squeeze and shrug out of my coat. CeCe hands me a small pad of paper and a pen.

“Grab orders, run drinks, do anything!” She hates crowds and busy nights, which is why she sticks to the behind-the-scenes work and working with kids at the rec center. Adults, especially needy drunk adults, are a nightmare for her.

I grab the pad from her and push her back behind the bar.

“Three Red Rangers and another basket of witches fingers.”

I take a table’s order and then move over to the next, but I stop dead in my tracks when I’m met with a beautiful woman. Short, curvy, blonde hair, blue eyes, and a sweet smile. She’s wearing a mustard sweater dress with long sleeves that stops mid-thigh. Thick legs in creamy tights lead to brown ankle boots. A few weeks ago, this girl would have had my heart pounding out of my chest, but today a sadness hits me.

Is this my dream girl and am I not responding the way Ishould because I’m in the middle of a contractual relationship? Wasn’t part of our guidelines to go ahead and keep looking for my forever and end things with her earlier if I do?

“Hey, what can I get for you?” I barely get out.

Her smile grows wider.

“Damn, she wasn’t lying. There is something in the water here,” she says with a rounded tone, looking me up and down then over my shoulder.

I stand there slightly confused for only a moment before I follow her eyes and see Harlow standing in all her dark, gorgeous glory.

She’s talking to Silas, his smile wide as he takes her in. Half of her hair is artfully twisted up with the rest flowing in loose curls around her shoulders. When she turns a little to wave to CeCe, I see a few curled loose pieces framing her face. She’s wearing black, which isn’t a surprise.

---